Problems · by component

1999 Ford Ranger tires problems

177 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Ford Ranger cite tires, 23% of all 785 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
177
23% of all complaints
Crashes
13
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the tires

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I NOTICED HEAVY RUST SCALE ON GROUND AND INSPECTED TO SEE MY SPARE TIRE WAS MISSING, THERE IS A LARGE HOLE RUSTED ALL THE WAY THRU THE FRAME IN FRONT OF THE LEFT REAR SPRING SHACKLE AND A CRACK IN THE FRAME IN FRONT OF THE FRONT SHACKLE ALMOST ALL THE WAY AROUND THE CHANNEL. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED ALL CROSS MEMBERS, GAS TANK STRAP AND BED SUPPORTS ARE SEVERELY RUSTED AND THE RIGHT SIDE FRAME RAIL FOLLOWING SUIT WITH THE LEFT FRAME RAIL. THE REMAINDER OF THE TRUCK IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A TRUCK WITH THIS AGE AND MILEAGE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 24, 2013Suspension, Structure, TiresODI 10513461
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD RANGER WITH DEFINITY DAKOTA H/T TIRES, SIZE P225/70/R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A CENTER HIGHWAY MEDIAN. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE CHIN AND ARM DUE TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE TREAD ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS SEPARATED. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES OF THE VEHICLE WERE APPROXIMATELY 175,000. UPDATED 01/29/13*LJ UPDATED 1/30/2013 *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 2, 2012TiresCrash reportedODI 10483168
“1999 FORD RANGER WITH 130,000 MILES. LEAF SPRINGS RUSTED OUT (BOTH SIDES) AND MOUNTING BRACKETS ALSO RUSTED. WENT TO 3 AUTOBODY SHOPS AND NOBODY WOULD TOUCH IT. BUMPER JUST RUSTED OUT ON BOTH SIDES AND SPARE TIRE WELL IS COMPLETELY RUSTED. BUMPER AND SPARE CURRENTLY BEING HELD TOGETHER WITH 2, 1900 LB CHAINS. RANGER RUNS FINE JUST BODY FALLING APART. VERY CONCERNED TIRE, BUMPER MAY BECOME DISLODGED AND CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE TO MYSELF OR OTHERS. GAS TANK ALSO RUSTED BUT NOT LEAKING SO FAR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 19, 2012Suspension, Fuel system, gasoline, Structure, TiresODI 10448484
“CABLE ATTACHING SPARE TIRE TO UNDERCARRIAGE OF TRUCK SNAPPED, CAUSING TIRE TO FALL INTO ROAD. I CONTACTED FORD WITH MY CONCERN, WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THIS DEFECT DUE TO MY TRUCK BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 26, 2009TiresODI 10260058
“I HAVE HAD 2 OF THESE TIRES BLOW OUT ON ME. THE FIRST HAPPENED ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. HEARD A LOUD BOOM AT 10 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT. WENT OUTSIDE AND FOUND A GASH IN THE TIRE ON THE SIDE WALL ABOUT 5 TO 6 INCHES LONG. I HAD THOUGH SOME ONE HAD SLASHED THE TIRE BUT THE POLICE OFFICER SAID THAT THE TIRE BLEW OUT FROM THE INSIDE. THIS TIRE WAS ON THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE 99 FORD RANGER PICK UP. I HAD IT REPLACED WITH THE SAME TIRE BRAND AND MODEL. THE SECOND TIRE BLEW OUT 6/24 WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 81. THIS WAS THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THE SIDE WALL HAS COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TREAD. IT LOOKS LIKE THE SEPARATION STARTS RIGHT ABOVE THE RAISED WHITE LETTERING. ONE OF THE OTHER 2 ORIGINAL TIRES HAS SOME OF THE WHITE BEGINNING TO SHOW ABOVE THE WHITE LETTERING. THE TIRE THAT WAS REPLACED 3 WEEKS AGO IS ALSO BEGINNING TO HAVE SOME OF THE WHITE THAT IS UNDER THE BLACK COLOR OF THE TIRE SHOW THROUGH RIGHT ABOVE THE LETTERING. I HAVE REPLACED ALL THE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE WITH KELLY TIRES. I HAVE THE BRIDGESTONE TIRES IF YOU WANT THEM. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 26, 2008TiresODI 10232354
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD RANGER. THE VEHICLE HAS SUMITOMO TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, ONE OF THE TIRES BLEW OUT. THE STRANDS FROM THE TIRE WRAPPED AROUND THE MUD FLAPS OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH HAD TO BE PULLED APART TO CHANGE THE TIRE. THE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED AND DAMAGED THE BRAKE LINE. THE TIRE WAS CHANGED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 103,000. THE MILEAGE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WAS 102,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 12, 2007TiresODI 10202742

Showing 6 of 177 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 5, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Tires: tread

Free remedy

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: FORD IS REPLACING ALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15, 16, AND 17 INCH TIRES MOUNTED ON FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS. FORD REPORTS TREAD SEPARATION CAN OCCUR DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THE TIRE DESIGN TO STRESS, AGING, AND MANUFACTURING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLANTS. FORD IS REPLACING THESE TIRES TO PREVENT POSSIBLE PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: THE VEHICLES LISTED BELOW MAY HAVE BEEN ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES OR MAY HAVE HAD WILDERNESS AT TIRES INSTALLED DURING THE FIRESTONE RECALL LAUNCHED IN AUGUST 2000. CERTAIN 1991 THROUGHT 2002 FORD EXPLORER CERTAIN 2001 THROUGHT 2002 EXPLORER SPORT, AND SPORT TRAC CERTAIN 1997 THROUGH 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 2001 RANGER CERTAIN 1999 THROUGH 2001 EXPEDITION CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994, AND 1997 MODEL YEAR F-SERIES CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994 BRONCO NOTE: BOTH ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND REPLACEMENT TIRES ARE AFFECTED.

TiresReported May 22, 2001NHTSA 01X001000

Tires: tread

Free remedy

TIRE DESCRIPTION: FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, SIZE P235/75R15, PRODUCED AT THE DECATUR, ILLINOIS TIRE PLANT AND ALL FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX AND RADIAL ATX II TIRES, SIZE P235/75R15. OPERATION OF THESE TIRES AT LOW INFLATION PRESSURES, HIGH SPEED, AND IN HOT WEATHER, CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SEPARATION OF THE TIRE TREAD.

TiresReported Aug 21, 2000NHTSA 00T005000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 5, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.